Amplification

Amplification is an increase in the intensity or magnitude of internal experiences — emotions, perceptions, motivations, or reactions. In mental health, amplification means things feel bigger, louder, more urgent, or more significant than usual. In bipolar disorder, for example, joy becomes euphoria, irritation becomes rage, confidence becomes grandiosity, ideas feel unusually important or meaningful. Amplification explains why experiences in certain mood states feel subjectively convincing and powerful, even when they may not align with reality or long-term judgment.